Not every exhibit on a tour is intended to be a centerpiece. Not every painting in a museum is going to attract viewers like the Mona Lisa, and every jersey number in our journey through Kansas City Chiefs history isn't going to feature one star player after another. But even with that caveat, No. 41 is an outlier.
Some numbers have been thinner than others, but No. 41 might be the weirdest one yet. That's not to say that we can't unearth some memorable stories from those who've worn the number; rather, there's a serious dearth of productivity despite the fact that players have worn the uniform decade after decade. Maybe that's the charm of a stop like this. Maybe that's what makes it unique. We'll take it.
The complete history of Chiefs players to wear No. 41
The Best: James Winchester
If you just did a spit take, we understand. The best player to ever wear the No. 41 for the entirety of Chiefs history is their current long snapper? Yes, it is.
No slight intended for James Winchester whatsoever. He's been an ironman at the position with an incredible run of reliability and longevity at the position for 11 long seasons, since first joining the Chiefs back in 2015. Beyond Travis Kelce, he's second in line for the longest tenure on the current roster, and the Chiefs obviously want to keep him around as long as possible. They've re-upped his deal several times, including a five-year extension back in 2017.
Still it's hard to believe that, positionally speaking, long snapper is as good as the No. 41 gets in K.C.'s storied history. Fortunately, Winchester's invisible work has helped form the backbone of three Super Bowl-winning special teams units. When considering his durability and consistency, maybe it's nice to have a moment to appreciate the overlooked. Guys like Winchester deserve more attention, so here's a chance to say thanks.
The Walk-On: Herb Christopher
Herb Christopher is the only other player who warrants a mention at No. 41—like we said, this number is weird. But a player who never earned a single scholarship to play college football found a way to leverage his walk-on performance at an HBCU in Atlanta called Morris Brown into an NFL invite from the Denver Broncos in 1978. From there, Christopher would get a call from the Chiefs to try out. An injury to Jerry Reese opened a chance to make the roster, and Christopher climbed the depth chart to become a full-time starter by the end of '79. He'd start every game for K.C. in 1980 before being relegated back to the bench following Lloyd Burruss's arrival. Fifty games in four NFL seasons.
The ULM Ballhawk: Pat Dennis
In 2000, the Chiefs spent a fifth-round pick on Pat Dennis, an early entry safety from Louisiana-Monroe with a reputation as a ballhawk. He set school single-season records for most pass deflections (18), interceptions (7), and the longest interception return (100 yards). His 13 career interceptions led him to forgo his final season of eligibility, and he became a 13-game starter for the Chiefs at corner after James Hasty was injured, registering 1 forced fumble, 1 interception, and 7 deflections. A sprained MCL the next preseason knocked him back down the depth chart, and he was released by mid-season. Dennis would serve short stints with Washington, Dallas, and Houston before retiring.
Et Cetera
- Reggie Tongue, S - We've covered Reggie back in No. 25, which was his primary number, but fans might more easily recall his productivity if he'd not just worn No. 41 for a single season.
- Dave Whitmore, DB - Reserve safety and special teamer from the Marty era.
- Kenny Hill, DB - Longtime Giants safety who hung on for his final season in K.C. with 1 INT in 8 games in 1989.
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